Former South African captain AB de Villiers He says Bengaluru still holds a special place in his heart, describing the city as the one that changed his life and gave him a connection with the fans unlike anything he’d had before.Speaking on The Times of India’s Bombay Sports Exchange podcast, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru legend reflected on his 11-year association with the franchise, saying the affection he received from the fans fulfilled a childhood dream.“Bengaluru is closest to my heart and will always remain so,” said de Villiers. “It’s the city that changed my life, so it will always have a special place in my heart.”De Villiers joined RCB in 2011 after spending three seasons with the Delhi franchise and quickly became one of the IPLthe most loved players. Beside Virat Kohliformed one of the league’s most iconic batting partnerships, earning an enduring place in the hearts of Bengaluru supporters despite the franchise’s long wait for its maiden IPL title.Looking back on his early days with RCB, de Villiers said he felt at home almost immediately.“Bengaluru is a very special city. It had a huge impact on my life. When I joined RCB in 2011, I immediately felt at home. It didn’t take long for the crowd to get behind me.”The 41-year-old recalled the first time he heard the Chinnaswamy Stadium crowd chanting his name, saying it immediately took him back to his childhood.“Hearing my name being sung was one of those moments I dreamed of as a child,” he said.“When I was six or seven years old, I used to hit tennis balls around the garage imagining myself playing in front of a huge crowd.”“The first time the Bangalore crowd started chanting my name, it felt like a light bulb went on. I thought, “This is exactly what I dreamed of.”According to de Villiers, this emotional bond formed almost instantly and grew stronger over the years.“That connection with Bengaluru was immediate. The connection with India as a whole developed even more in the following years, especially around 2015 and 2016. But Bengaluru was where it all started.”Few overseas cricketers have enjoyed the kind of adulation that de Villiers continues to receive in India, with RCB supporters still celebrating him years after his retirement from the IPL.Asked what made Indian fans connect with him so deeply, the former South African captain admitted that he never understood it.“Honestly, I never really understood. All I know is that it was incredibly special,” he said.“India has a deep love for cricket and for competition. I think people appreciate players who compete with passion and genuine joy.”“Maybe that’s what people connected with. Maybe they also appreciated someone who always tried to keep positive.”While he can’t fully explain the relationship, de Villiers says it remains one of the greatest gifts of his career.“However it happened, I’m simply grateful,” he said. “The connection I shared with the people of Bengaluru, and with India as a whole, is something I will always cherish.”